You're talking about in the US, Doug. I haven't met any of them. I'm only talking about Western Australian mine workers. Seriously, they're another level.
I understand that. If you choose to work in the mines, you are putting your life in the hands of your guys that you work with.

I got out of that and said, this shit is not for me, at all! I did it for a few months and having rocks fall on you as you put bolts up is not fun and having to eat your lunch on the fucking ground is horrible...It is a job that i took but i respect the hell out of those guys. I have been to Australia many times but just to surf or go diving but many miners in the U.S. wanna go mine in Australia.

It never interested me and i never asked questions or met any of those guys....

I have met numerous guys who mine and have no education, at all but they make 65k a year.

In West Virginia, it is their way of life and the women are like women of the 50's because we worked 16-18+ per day...Glad that i got out!
